A smart watch from Apple(AAPL), however, could be a game-changer. The New York Timesstrengthened the iWatch rumors on Sunday, reporting that Apple is working on an iOS-powered smart watch that features a curved glass display.

"It's pretty cool that so many people are interested," Migicovsky says. "When I started working on a watch five years ago, I was a kid at the University of Waterloo soldering things together. And then to see The New York Times writing a story a month about smart watches, that is awesome."

Pebble, which found itself committed to 85,000 watches for Kickstarter backers, began shipping in January after a four-month delay. Migicovsky is loath to talk specifically about Apple, responding with a simple "no" when asked about whether the iWatch rumors made him the least bit nervous.

Geiser says his product is focused on simplicity and design -- Apple's most defining traits. He admits that MetaWatch and other smart watch companies will have to differentiate themselves from the tech giant if Apple decides to get into the market.

"Apple is magnificently successful in all they do, and they will be in [smart watches] too, I'm sure," Geiser says. "But not everyone is going to want the same thing. There will be products that do things the Apple watch doesn't."